Maple Leaf centre Dave Bolland said he is feeling a little “broken down” mentally since he severed his tendon in November.

Bolland, acquired from the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in the off-season, addressed the media for the first time Saturday morning in the Leafs dressing room since he returned to skate recently.

The 27-year-old forward had six goals and four assists in 15 games before the injury and the Leafs were 10-4 going into that game in Vancouver when Bolland was injured. The Leafs went on to lose that game 4-0 and the team has struggled ever since.

Bolland is anxious to return to be with his teammates.

“I'm coming around,” Bolland told reporters after the pre-game skate as the Leafs prepared to face the Montreal Canadiens at Air Canada Centre.

Bolland did not skate today

“You cut a tendon, it's a little different from a little minor injury,” Bolland said.

On Friday, Bolland skated full out and did many starts and stops and cross-overs, but did not participate in the Leaf practice. He looked in discomfort.

Leaf coach Randy Carlyle, however, said Bolland looked much better than he had in a previous skate.

Carlyle said the team will make a decision in the next 24 hours on whether to take Bolland on their four-game road swing next week when he would get a chance to be with his teammates and skate more.

Carlyle said the team would not take a chance until Bolland is “100 per cent” recovered.

There has been no timetable set for Bolland's return.

Bolland said there are “good days and bad days. It's a slow rehab. It's difficult being patient.”

Asked when he'll be back, he said, “Who knows?”

Bolland's demeanor in front of reporters wasn't totally grim. At one point when asked for his take on the team since he left, Bolland's answer suggested he misses the spotlight as much as his teammates. "The team?" he said, staring at about a dozen reporters. "I thought this was all about me." He gave a big smile and reporters returned to questions about him.

Bolland said the injury reminded him of a similar one experienced by Mike Modano of the Dallas Stars in 1995. Modano endured a long recovery, but went on to play for 15 more seasons.

“When you're watching and you're off the ice, it does screw with your head mentally,” Bolland told reporters.

“When you cut a tendon, it's a big deal. You've heard a lot of stories. I think I read where Mike Modano took six months (on rehab) and he cut almost the same thing, so you sort of hear some of those things and you have that in the back of your head.”

Saturday night’s game:

The Maple Leafs (24-20-5) entertain the Montreal Canadiens (27-16-5) Saturday night in their third meeting of the season. The Leafs won the first encounter 4-3 on Oct. 1 with Mason Raymond scoring the winning goal.

The Canadiens won the second game 4-2 on Nov. 30 when Tomas Plekanec scored the winner. They play again March 1 in Montreal.

Here's what you need to know about Saturday night's game:

STARTING GOALIES

Jonathan Bernier is the likely starter for the Leafs because he was in “home” goal at the pre-game skate, while Olympic goaltender Carey Price will likely be between the pipes for Montreal.

MISSING AT SKATE

Peter Holland was a surprise absence at the pre-game skate on Saturday morning. Leaf coach Randy Carlyle said he was feeling ill (possibly flu symptoms) but is expected to play tonight.

NHL DEBUT

Montreal centre Joonas Nattinen will be making his NHL debut tonight. The 6-foot-3, 192-pound Finnish player was Montreal's second pick in the third round of the 2009 draft. He was called up from the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, where he had five goals and six assists in 37 games. “He's got size. He could play on the fourth line,” said coach Michel Therrien. “We're looking forward to giving him his first chance in the NHL tonight. Playing the Leafs on a Saturday night, you can't ask for better excitement.” Rene Bourque is a healthy scratch.

HEAD TO HEAD

Lars Eller and Max Pacioretty have two goals each against the Leafs in the first two games. James van Riemsdyk and Mason Raymond each scored twice in the two games played against the Habs.

SHOTS ON GOAL

The Leafs continue to suffer from a disparity in shots on goal. They are averaging 27.6 shots for and 36.4 shots against. The Habs are also outshot most games. They are averaging 28.5 shots on goal and are giving up an average of 30.0 shots a game.

STREAKS

The Leafs are on a three-game winning streak. Phil Kessel has a four-game point streak, with two goals and six assists for eight points over that span. For the Canadiens, Max Pacioretty has a three-game point streak with two goals and one assist.

The Canadiens have no player on their current roster that has previously played with the Maple Leafs and the Leafs have no former Canadiens player on their current roster.

P.K. SUBBAN

The Toronto-born Norris Trophy winning defenceman says he expected to be booed loudly by the Leafs crowd. He was booed unmercifully against the Ottawa Senators in the last game. The flamboyant defenceman, who says he is booed everywhere he plays, says he regards being booed as kind of compliment. Bobby Orr was booed in his day, but Subban wasn't about to compare himself to Orr.

“Any team or crowd or city that is going to pay that much attention to you, it's a compliment,” Subban said Friday after practice.

Subban said that if fans are wasting time booing him, some of his other teammates can fly under the radar.

“I don't really pay attention to it (booing),” Subban said. “It's tough enough already to compete every night in the NHL. I wouldn't be helping my team or myself by focusing on anything else but that.”

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